People celebrate Nowruz, the Persian new year, in Akre, in the Duhok province of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 20 March 2023. Nowruz is an ancient Zoroastrian tradition celebrated by Iranians and Kurds, which coincides with the spring equinox. Despite rain and storms, this year over 100,000 people travelled to Akre to enjoy the festivities as Kurdish music is played in the streets, a 100m Kurdistan flag is draped from the top of the Seri Kale mountain, and fireworks are set off all day. At dusk, Kurds carry flaming torches up Seri Kale mountain followed by a huge fireworks and light display.
Tom Nicholson is an award-winning British freelance photojournalist. Formerly a stringer for Reuters in London, he also spent five years working on stories in the Middle East before moving to Paris.
